MLB insider loves the Cubs' moves, names team a winner of the offseason

In a month's time, the sounds and sights of spring training will fill the air - and the 2026 Chicago Cubs be taking their first steps toward the ultimate goal: bringing a World Series championship back to the North Side.

Coming off a 92-win regular season capped by a playoff run that fell one win shy of an NLCS appearance, Jed Hoyer delivered his best offseason to-date, headlined by the recent Edward Cabrera trade and Alex Bregman signing. The constant criticism over the team's lack of spending has been quieted - and Chicago projects to carry its highest Opening Day payroll ever this season.

His efforts haven't gone unnoticed by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, who named the Cubs among the winners of the offseason in his latest column, joining the likes of the Orioles, Blue Jays, Pirates, White Sox and Dodgers. Another plus for Cubs fans? He named the rival Milwaukee Brewers on the other side of the equation as a team still in need of a big move.

Jeff Passan has good things to say about the Cubs' offseason moves

Here's a snippet of what Passan had to say about the Cubs' offseason to-date.

Considering Chicago's reticence to spend in recent years -- including last winter with Bregman -- the $35 million-a-year commitment to Bregman is a welcome return to the Cubs not acting like they're run by St. Helen of the Blessed Shroud. The deal represents the largest per-year salary in Cubs history and is their biggest signing, in terms of potential impact, since adding Jon Lester and Jason Heyward more than a decade ago.

Obviously, the additions of Cabrera and Bregman are the headliners of the winter, but Hoyer and GM Carter Hawkins were diligent in re-building a bullpen that was cleared out thanks to Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz and Caleb Thielbar (among others) hitting free agency. The reunited with Thielbar and brought in the likes of Hunter Harvey, Hoby Milner, Phil Maton and Jacob Webb (as well as several other minor-league signees), in hopes of replicating their success from a year ago.

The bench looks dramatically stronger, as well, with Tyler Austin coming back from Japan on a one-year deal and Miguel Amaya, Kevin Alcantara and Matt Shaw rounding out the mix. It at least feels like the floor of this group should be higher than the bench rotation on last year's team, which could allow Craig Counsell to keep his team fresh over the course of the year.

It's safe to say this has felt like the most complete offseason of Hoyer's tenure as Cubs president of baseball operations. Every box (with the possible exception of closer) was checked and this team is ready to chase down a division title for the first time since the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.